Orange-clipper



(ModeL) M. S. DRAKE.

ORANGE GLIPPER.

No. 278,108. Patented May 22,1883.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

,ORANGE-C'LIPPER.

SPECIFICATION forming To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, MAHLON S. DRAKE, of Newark, in the county of Essex and State of Newdersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Orange-Clippers; and I do'hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being bad to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, which form part ofthis specification, in which- Figure 1 is a side elevation. Fig. 2 is a plan view. Figs. 3 and 4 are detail viewsof the trigger mechanism.

This invention relates to a device which is designed for severingoranges from the stems without in any manner injuring the fruit, which device will be understood from the following description, when taken in connection with the annexed drawings.

The letter A designates the handle of the instrument, which is made like the handle ofa pistol, so that it can be firmly held in the hand, and which is made with an eye, a, atits butt, to whicha cord can be attached that may be fastened to the body of the user of the instrument.

The stock 13 of the handle is formed with a circular box, 0, adapted to receive a coiled spring, D, one end of which is fastened in a notch in the rim of the box, and the other end is fastened in a notch formed in the cap b of a trigger, E. The cap bis attached to the box' G by a screw-pivot, 0, so that it can oscillate freely. The periphery of the movable cap has two or more teeth, at d, formed on it, which are received in corresponding notches formed in the lower edge of a sliding blade or knife, G, the cutting-edge e of which is on the forward end of the blade and made so as to give a draw cut. The stock B of the graspinghandle A has a blade, J, rigidly secured to it by casting or otherwise, and in the front end and upper edge of this blade is formed asemicircular notch to receive the orange-stem to be severed by the cutting-edge e of the slidin g blade G. The end of the fixed blade J is rounded, as shown. I- thus not only form a shoulder against which to out, but I also have part of Letters Patent No. 278,108, dated May 22, 1883. Application filed October 16,18B2. (Model.)

- a hook, L, which will lie close down into the pit of an orange and allow the stem to be severed short. The hook also serves as a guard or shield to prevent the orange-skin from being injured while severing it from its stem. The sliding knife G is applied to the side of the blade J by means of screwsgg, passed through oblong slots h IL, as shown, and this blade is operated by. pulling with the finger on the trigger l), as in the act of firing a pistol. The spring I) will retract the blade when the trigger is released.

I am aware that before my invention orange and wire clippers have been constructed with two blades, one of which has a hook on its end and the other has a cutting-edge, the movable blade being actuated by a finger piece or lever. I do. not,therefore, broadly claim as my invention such a contrivance.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. An orange-stem clipper consisting of the flat blade J, having a hooked end and rigidly secured to a handle, A, in combination with the tlat sliding blade Gr, connected to one side of the blade J by means of screws passing through slots h, the box G, cast on the handle A, the cap I) and its trigger, pivoted to said .box and engaging by means of teeth with the blade G, and the iuclosed spring D, all constructed andadapted to operate substantially in the manner and for the purposes described.

2. The combinaton ot' the hooked blade J, the box 0 and handle, cast in one piece, the toothed oscillating cap I), having a trigger, E, and teeth (I and inclosing a spring, and the sliding slotted cutting-blade Gr, engaging with the teeth on said cap, all constructed and adapted to operate substantially in the manner and for the purposes described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I aflix my signature in presence of twowitnesses. V V

MAHLON S. DRAKE. Witnesses:

JOSEPH. J. \VALTON, SOLOMON SMITH. 

